Variable-length, multi-sectioned container

ABSTRACT

A variable-length, multi-sectioned container, wherein a larger composite container may be shortened by the removal of a section or lengthened by the addition of a section is provided. The present invention provides solutions to the messy dispensing and wasted space normally associated with larger containers used when buying in bulk quantities, or otherwise. The closures of the removable section(s) are selected to be complementary with the closures of both the lid and the container, respectively.

1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to containers. In particular, thepresent invention relates to variable-length, multi-sectionedcontainers, wherein a larger composite container may be shortened by theremoval of a section or lengthened by the addition of a section.

2. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Almost every commercial good is delivered to the customer indisposable packaging. The type of packaging that is selected for aparticular good depends upon several factors: for example, availability;attractiveness to the consumer; size, shape, and durability of thegoods; ease of manufacture; and cost. A manufacturer can reduce the costof packaging per item of goods, and pass this reduced cost on to theconsumer through lower price of the goods, by increasing the amount ofgoods contained within the individual container. Simply put, increasedamount of goods within each container generally results in lower costper amount of good.

[0003] Having an increased container size can present several problemsfor the customer—the container could be so large as to hold a quantityof goods that is impractical for the average consumer. Also, for somegoods, an overly large container can present product dispensingproblems. A common example of this difficulty is in the packaging ofsemi-solids such as paste, jellies and jams, cosmetics and skin-careproducts, and peanut butter. For these products, retrieval of the goodsfrom the container is easy at first; however, removing the lastquantities of product from a large container can prove frustrating.Consumers find that a spoon or other tool is often too short to reachthe product at the bottom of a tall container. Further, while removingthe last portion of goods from the container, the residual amounts ofthe product that coat the inside surface of the container willinevitably be smeared on the consumer's hand.

[0004] This problem can be solved by the consumer by discarding thecontainer before completely consuming the residual amounts of product inthe container. Unfortunately, this wastage prevents the cost savingsthat was originally intended when increasing the package size. Theproblem can also be solved by the manufacturer by either decreasing thepackage size or by increasing the ratio of opening diameter to packagevolume. Again, the goal of cost savings is defeated in the formerstrategy, and additional packaging costs are created by the latterstrategy.

[0005] Another problem is created by the use of larger containers:customers must waste valuable storage space for these larger containersthat, when the product is mostly consumed, contain mostly empty space.In these cases, the costs saved by buying in bulk quantities is offsetby increased cost of storage.

[0006] The economic trade-offs between buying in bulk and thedifficulties of using larger containers is especially important inindustrial and commercial kitchens where food is purchased in bulk foreconomy whenever possible but, because of the large size of thecontainers, workers encounter difficulty in getting all of the contentsscraped out of containers. It is not uncommon to for workers to cut thetops off containers so as to have better access to their contents. Usingall of the container's contents is important in kitchens where profitmargins are slim. When the product in the container is used rapidly andcompletely, this practice makes good sense but if not all the contentsof the container are used shortly after the top of the container is cutoff, then resealing the container becomes a problem.

[0007] Thus, there exists considerable need for a container that can beused to package and store a quantity of product, without the foregoinglimitations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] According to its major aspects and briefly described, the presentinvention is a variable-length, multi-sectioned container, wherein alarger composite container may be shortened by the removal of a sectionor lengthened by the addition of a section. The primary object of thepresent invention is to provide a solution to the problems of messydispensing and wasted space associated with the use of a largecontainer.

[0009] The solution provided by the present invention lies in theselection of the closures used in the container. By closures, it ismeant to indicate the portions of the individual components of thecontainer that permit complementary components to become attached. Here,the closures are selected to make the lid and the upper edge of thebottom section complementary, and therefore, reversibly attachable. Merecomplementarity of a lid and a hollow bottom section is a common featureof most containers; however, the present invention also comprises ahollow middle section with closures on the lower edge that are identicalto those found on the lid, and closures on the upper edge that areidentical to those found on the bottom section.

[0010] As a result of this identity and complementarity, the middlesection can be removed and the lid can be mated to the bottom section.In a container holding peanut butter, for example, when the product hasbeen consumed to a level below the juncture of the middle section andthe bottom section, the middle section can be removed and discarded. Thelid is retained, and, since it has complementary closures to theremaining bottom section, used to cover the unused peanut butter. Theresulting smaller container will enable the consumer to remove peanutbutter without mess and to prevent the wasted space that would have beenassociated with the formerly too big container. Likewise, additionalmiddle sections can be added to the container to provide a largerstorage capacity, if desired, without sacrificing any of the foregoingadvantages of the solution provided by the present invention.

[0011] An important advantage of the present invention is found in itsapplication in larger containers such as those typically purchased byinstitutional and commercial kitchens. Many of these kitchens operatewith thin profit margins and must make good use of the products theybuy. They buy in bulk to reduce cost. Buying in bulk means hasimplications on storage capacity and in the need to use as much of thecontents of a large container. The present invention mitigates both thestorage concerns and the difficulties of using larger containers.

[0012] Other features and their advantages will be apparent to thoseskilled in the manufacture and use of containers from inspection of thedrawings or careful reading of the Detailed Description of PreferredEmbodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] In the drawings,

[0014]FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the fully assembled form ofa preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0015]FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the disassembled form of apreferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0016]FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional, exploded view of a preferredembodiment of the present invention taken along line A-A of FIG. 1.

[0017]FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional, exploded view of an alternatepreferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0018]FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the partially assembled formof the alternate preferred embodiment of FIG. 4.

[0019]FIG. 6 is a front perspective view of the fully assembled form ofanother alternate embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0020] The invention is a variable-length, multi-sectioned container,wherein a larger composite container may be shortened by the removal ofone or more middle sections or lengthened by the addition of one or moremiddle sections.

[0021] While in its most preferred embodiment a screw-type closure isused, several other types of closure can be incorporated into thepresent invention. For example, the common snap-tight fit can be used toprovide an inexpensive container in any application where aliquid-tight, precision closure is not required. A pressure fitting,where the interior portion of the closure fits snugly within theexterior portion of the closure, is another option for a less expensivecontainer. Also, a standard child-proof seal can be incorporated in thepresent invention to provide a container that cannot be easilydisassembled by a child. Finally, in many applications, such as in smallinsulated lunch boxes and drink caddies made of woven textile products,the closure of choice can be a slide fastener. However, this list is notexclusive, and many other common closures used in the manufacture ofcontainers may also be used in the present invention.

[0022] The container can be manufactured from a variety of materials. Inits most common embodiments, the present invention can be made of glass;metals, such as steel or aluminum; plastics, such as polypropylene,polyethylene, or polyethylene-terephthalate; polymer foam, such aspolyurethane; woven textiles, such as nylon or polyester; or wood.However, this list is not exclusive, and many other common materialsused in the manufacture of containers may also be used in the presentinvention. Likewise, the container and container sections can be formedin a variety of shapes. Although the hollow, body sections of thecontainer can be square, rectangular, conical, spherical, or any othershape that is desired for functionality or aesthetics, the container ispreferably cylindrical.

[0023] Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a multi-sectioned storagecontainer in accordance with a most preferred embodiment of the presentinvention. Container 10 is designed to store a variety of materials andproducts, but as aforementioned, most particularly semi-solids. Productcan be held within the hollow interior. Container 10 includes a lid 12and at least one middle section 14. The lower edge of lid 12 and theupper edge of middle section 14 are reversibly joined by any of a numberof common container closures, but, most preferably, by a screw-typeclosure. Container 10 also includes a bottom section 20 that has a floorand an upper edge that is capable of reversibly joining or mating to theclosure carried by the lower edge of middle section 14 to form ajuncture. Preferably, lid 12 and lower edge of middle section 14 carryinterior threads, and the upper edge of the middle section 14 and bottomsection 20 carry exterior threads. In all embodiments, the closures ofthe present invention are selected such that while the closure of lid 12and the closure of the upper edge of middle section 14 are complementaryand can be firmly and releasably engaged to join the respectivesections, the closure of lid 12 is both corresponding—that is,functionally identical—to the closure of the lower edge of middlesection 14 and complementary—that is, functionally engagable—to theclosure of the upper edge of bottom section 20. Likewise, while theclosure of the lower edge of middle section 14 and the closure of theupper edge of bottom section 20 are complementary and can be firmly andreleasably engaged to join the respective sections, the closure of loweredge of middle section 14 are both identical to the closure of lid 12and complementary to the closure of the upper edge of middle section 14.As a result of this identity and complementarity, the middle section 14can be removed and lid 12 can be mated to bottom section 20. However, inits fully assembled form, the disassembly of middle section 14 frombottom section 20 is inhibited by sealing means 22. Sealing means 22 is,in the most preferred embodiment, an inelastic band covering thejuncture of the sections and can be released by peeling the band off ofcontainer 10. Suitable materials for sealing means 22 are polymers suchas polyethylene, polypropylene, or any other commodity plastic; further,the inelastic band is preferably transparent. Sealing means 22 can alsobe easily released by operation of perforations 24, aligned with thejuncture. In the most preferred embodiment, perforations 24 consist oflongitudinally intermittent voids that can be broken under sufficientpressure or torque to sever the band into two separate pieces, therebyreleasing sealing means 22 and allowing middle section 14 and bottomsection 20 to be separated. However, perforations 24 may also consist ofa line of alternating thin and thick areas in the material of sealingmeans 22 and may be broken along the line of weaker, thin areas.

[0024] Referring now to FIG. 2, the results of the identity andcomplementarity of the closures of the present invention are shown.Container 10 can comprise a smaller structure by disassembly, asdescribed above. Removal of lid 12, release of sealing means 22, andremoval of middle section 14 by disjoining the closure of middle section14 from the closure of bottom section 20, followed by replacing lid 12by attachment to the upper edge of bottom section 20, results in smallercontainer 10. Also shown are the closure of the upper edge of middlesection 14, exterior threads 18, and of the lower edge of middle section14, interior threads 16.

[0025] The identity and complementarity of the closure of container 10can be more fully understood and appreciated by a cross-sectional viewof the fully disassembled form of a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention, as depicted in FIG. 3. As further depicted in FIG. 4, anothermiddle section 14 and sealing means 22 can be added to container 10 toprovide a larger storage capacity without sacrificing any of theforegoing advantages of the present invention. Referring now to FIG. 5,the individual components of container 10 can be mated, resulting in thepartially assembled form of a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention. The larger storage capacity container 10 can be disassembledas described previously as the contents are consumed.

[0026] An alternate embodiment of the present invention is middlesection 14 of the sectioned container 10 used as an extender for astandard jar 26. Referring now to FIG. 6, this invention allows apre-existing jar or bottle that has a complementary closure to be easilyand quickly extended or expanded in order to hold a greater volumewithout the need to transfer its contents to a different container. In apreferred alternate embodiment, the body of the extender carriesexterior threads 18 on its upper edge and interior threads 16 on itslower edge. Also, the extender is preferably dimensioned to haveapproximately the same diameter as standard jar 26, and the closures ofthe extender are dimensioned and adapted to be complementary to standardjar 26 closures.

[0027] The dimensions of container 10 are not critical but it will bereadily apparent that the present invention operates especially wellwith larger containers, particularly industrial size containers such asthose that are at least one gallon in volume.

[0028] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art of manufacturingor using jars that many modifications and substitutions can be made tothe foregoing preferred embodiments without departing from the spiritand scope of the present invention, defined by the appended claims.

List Of Reference Numbers

[0029] container, generally . . . 10

[0030] lid . . . 12

[0031] middle section . . . 14

[0032] interior threads . . . 16

[0033] exterior threads . . . 18

[0034] bottom section . . . 20

[0035] sealing band . . . 22

[0036] perforations . . . 24

[0037] standard jar . . . 26

What is claimed is:
 1. A container comprising: a lid having a firstclosure; a hollow middle section having a first edge and a second edge,wherein said first edge carries a second closure that mates with saidfirst closure of said lid and wherein said second edge carries a firstclosure corresponding to said first closure of said lid; and a hollowbottom section having a floor and a second closure corresponding to saidsecond closure of said middle section and mating with said firstclosures of said lid and said middle section, wherein said middlesection and said bottom section form a juncture when said second closureof said bottom section is mated with said first closure of said middlesection.
 2. The container as recited in claim 1, said container furthercomprising sealing means covering said juncture.
 3. The container asrecited in claim 2, wherein said sealing means is perforated.
 4. Thecontainer as recited in claim 3, wherein said sealing means isperforated at said juncture.
 5. The container as recited in claim 2,said sealing means further comprises a band of inelastic material. 6.The container as recited in claim 1, wherein said first closures of saidlid and said middle section are interior threads and said secondclosures of said middle section and said bottom section are exteriorthreads.
 7. The container as recited in claim 1, wherein said firstclosures of said lid and said middle section and said second closures ofsaid middle section and said bottom section are selected from the groupconsisting of snap-tight fit, pressure fitting, child-proof seal, andslide fasteners.
 8. The container as recited in claim 1, wherein saidcontainer is formed from a material selected from the group consistingof glass, metal, plastic, polymer foam, woven textile, and wood.
 9. Thecontainer as recited in claim 1, wherein said container is cylindrical.10. An extender for a container having a hollow bottom section with asecond closure, said extender comprising: a hollow body having a firstedge and a second edge, wherein said first edge carries a first closurethat mates with said second closure of said bottom section, and whereinsaid first edge carries a second closure corresponding to said secondclosure of said bottom section, wherein said extender and said bottomsection of said container form a juncture when said second closure ofsaid bottom section is mated with said first closure of said extender.11. The extender as recited in claim 10, wherein said container furthercomprises a lid with first closure, wherein said lid and said extenderform a juncture when said second closure of said extender is mated withsaid first closure of said lid.
 12. The extender as recited in claim 10,said extender further comprising: sealing means covering said juncture.13. The extender as recited in claim 12, said sealing means furthercomprises a band of inelastic material.
 14. The extender as recited inclaim 13, wherein said sealing means is perforated at said juncture. 15.The extender as recited in claim 11, wherein said first closures of saidlid and said extender are interior threads and said second closures ofsaid extender and said bottom section are exterior threads.
 16. Theextender as recited in claim 11, wherein said first closures of said lidand said extender and said second closures of said extender and saidbottom section are selected from the group consisting of snap-tight fit,pressure fitting, child-proof seal, and slide fasteners.
 17. Theextender as recited in claim 10, wherein said extender is formed from amaterial selected from the group consisting of glass, metal, plastic,woven textile, and wood.
 18. The extender as recited in claim 10,wherein said extender is dimensioned to have a diameter approximatelyequal to the diameter of said container.
 19. The extender as recited inclaim 10, wherein said extender is cylindrical.
 20. A process forreducing the height of a container having a lid with a first closure; ahollow middle section with a first edge and a second edge, wherein saidfirst edge carries a second closure that mates with said first closureof said lid and wherein said second edge carries a first closurecorresponding to said first closure of said lid; and a hollow bottomsection with a floor and a second closure corresponding to said secondclosure of said middle section and mating with said first closures ofsaid lid and said middle section, wherein said middle section and saidbottom section form a juncture when said second closure of said bottomsection is mated with said first closure of said middle section; saidprocess comprising the steps of: removing said lid; releasing saidsealing means; disjoining said middle section from said bottom section;and replacing said lid by mating said first closure of said lid withsaid second closure of said bottom section.